Locked multi-cartridge pen



E. HECHTLE LOCKED MULTI-GARTRIDGE PEN Filed June 28, 1963 FIG .2

INVENTOR. EMIL HECHT LE cuvuj u mms ATTORNEY m 4 3 a m 0 48 O 4 53 l/Nov. 23, 1965 United States Patent 3,219,016 LOCKED MULTI-CARTRIDGE PENEmil Hechtle, Oradell, N.J., assignor to Radiant Pen Corp., Kenilworth,NJ. Filed June 28, 1963, Ser. No. 292,209 Claims. (Cl. 120-4213) Thisinvention relates to a multi-cartridge pen wherein a selected cartridgemay be individually projected or retracted. This application is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 130,851, filed August 11,1961, now Patent No. 3,143,101 dated August 4, 1964.

In this earlier application, I provide a multi-cartridge pen with anindividual cartridge project-retract mechanism that is easy to assemble,employing a minimum number of parts in a minimum amount of space, andhaving a one-piece combined cap and barrel into the mouth and top ofwhich the project-retract mechanism supporting structure are inserted tocomplete the assembly.

The project-retract mechanism for each cartridge in the multi-cartridgepen is operated by a spring which urges a plunger provided with a latch,from the project to the retract position, where it is stopped by acatch. If the spring is too strong or the latch too weak, the parts mayaccidentally be expelled out of the top of the barrel.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide anauxiliary lock for the operating mechanism to prevent accidentalejection of the parts by the cartridge spring, when moving from theproject to the retract position.

Another object is to provide an additional positive lock in amulti-cartridge pen, without adding any additional parts to theassembly. vided a separator extending between the cartridges andassociated mechanism to insure independence of opera tion and freedomfrom jamming. A further object of the present invention is to provide astop means on the separator where it will limit the retract position ofthe plunger and thus prevent accidental loss of the parts. An additionalobject is to provide a means for permitting the plunger to cam over thestop on the separator when assembling the parts.

I accomplish these and other objects and obtain my new results as wellbe apparent from the device described in the following specification,particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying draW- ing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of the novel multicartridge pen;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded view of the pen showing the various constituentparts in perspective; and

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinally sectioned view with one of the cartridgesprojected into writing position.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, reference numeral designates aone-piece combined cap and barrel having an opening 12 into which amulti-cartridge supporting unit 14 is inserted. The barrel is providedwith a ball point opening 16, and a seat 18 for positioning the unit.

The multi-cartridge unit comprises a longitudinally extending separator20, terminating in a transversely extending spacer 22 forming atransverse support for the cartridges. The separator is preferablymolded integrally with the spacer. The separator divides the upperbarrel compartment 23 into the number of chambers corresponding to thenumber of cartridges employed. In the embodiment illustrated, a twocartridge unit is utilized by Way of example, containing cartridges 24and 26.

In my earlier disclosure, I pro- The separator 20 constitutes a thindiametric wall extending from the spacer to the outside of the opening12 where it separates the plungers 28 and 30, used for operating thecartridges. Stops 23 and 25 are formed on the opposite sides of theseparator for a purpose hereinafter described.

The plungers are hollow and the outer wall of each is slotted as at 32to form a springy leg 34 having a latch 36 extending from the endthereof. The base wall 37 is used as an auxiliary catch to engage thestop, insuring that the plunger will not move there beyond.

The barrel of the pen illustrated is formed adjacent each cartridge withtwo catch openings 38 and 40 representing the project and retractpositions respectively of the cartridges. The latch 36 springily engagesthe wall edge of each opening to snaplock the corresponding plungertherein when in either of the two positions. Springs 42 and 4-4 encirclethe cartridges for biasing the cartridges against the respectiveplungers. Ears 46 extend laterally from each cartridge to engage theassociated spring which rest on the spacer 22. The pressure is thusexerted on each plunger, causes the latch 36 to engage the correspondingopening to which the plunger has been propelled.

The spacer end 23 fits into slot 19 on the pen body so as toautomatically orient the plungers with respect to the catches 38 and 40when in assembled position.

Openings 48 and 50 are provided in the spacer 22 through which thecartridges extend. The openings are spaced sufliciently apart to permitthe separator to extend from the space. The springs rest on the flanges49 and 51 formed at the bottom of openings 48 and 50, respectively.

The project-retract mechanism comprises the plungers operating againstthe action of the cartridge springs. The unit and separator are insertedinto the barrel, until the spacer reaches the seat 18. The cartridgesand associated springs are then inserted and thereafter the plungers.The plungers are individually depressed until the respective latches arelocated in the catch openings 40 constituting the retract position. Inthis position the springs are under sufficient pressure to hold theentire assembly secured in position in the barrel. The tapered shape ofeach stop along the upper surface, permits the plungers to be cammedpast the stops until the base wall 37 snaps past the stop thus enclosingthe stop in the hollow plunger.

Upon selecting the cartridge to be projected, the corresponding plungeris depressed, causing the respective latch to be cammed out of catchopening 40 until it reaches catch opening 38 where the latch will engagethe wall thereof, against the action of the spring.

When it is desired to retract the cartridge, the latch is depressed inopening 38 by a finger tip until the latch is free of the wall of thebarrel. The cartridge encircling spring will then drive the plunger awayfrom opening 38 until the latch reaches opening 40. At this point thelatch 36 will project itself through the opening 40 engaging the wallthereof.

Should the latch be propelled beyond the opening 40 without catching,due to the excess power of the spring and because the latch does notspring into position fast enough, the stop 23 or 25 will engage theplunger of the base wall 37, impeding further motion, and preventingloss of the plunger.

The latch 36 is provided with a camming surface 39 to allow the catch tobe inwardly sprung to free it from its respective opening when theplunger is depressed.

The inner barrel surface 52 is tapered adjacent the ball point opening16, to cam the cartridge slightly off its longitudinal position enablingthe ball point to enter the opening. The cartridge may be made flexible,or the openings 48 and 50 in the spacer 22 may be slightly elongated topermit the cartridge to tilt slightly when entering the central opening.

The plunger may be made of springy plastic with the latch outwardlybiased in position, to provide the necessary snap action when the latchreaches the catch opening. The hollowed portion 41 formed in the plungerwill permit the latch and stop to be accommodated within the plungerWithout interference when the latch is depressed or when the plunger ismoved into operating position.

The barrel opening 38 corresponding to the project position of thecartridge, may be externally grooved, as at 54, to permit the tip of thefinger to be guided against the latch, to facilitate depressing andunlatching the plunger. This convenience is not necessary in upper catchopening 40 from which position the latch is normally disengaged bydirect axial pressure on the plunger. The type projectretract mechanismshown requires a minimum of space in the barrel. Other mechanisms mayalso be employed where the overall diameter of the pen barrel is notcontrolling.

Because of the stop feature, the cartridge, springs, separator, spacerand plunger are all removed as a unit.

The multi-cartridge pen is exceptionally easy to assemble and operate.However, because of the auxiliary stop feature on the separator, when itis necessary to replace a cartridge, the entire multi-cartridge unit 14must be removed. This may be accomplished by depressing both latches 36simultaneously, to free the unit from the barrel. Alternatively themulti-cartridge unit 14 may be slightly rotated in the seat 18 when allthe latches are positioned in the catch openings 40. This rotation willlaterally release the latches from the catches permitting themulticartridge unit to slide longitudinally and outwardly in the barrel.The catches 40 may be laterally grooved on the inside of the barrel topermit such camming action, or the latches may be provided with lateralcamming surfaces for this purpose.

The clip 56 may be molded to the one-piece combined cap and barrel whenforming the same. The separator provided with the auxiliary stopsprevents loss of a plunger, associated cartridge and spring, should thelatch accidentally by-pass the upper catch opening for any reason.

The stops do not eliminate the need for the upper catch openings, sincethese serve also to anchor the assembly of spacer, separator cartridges,springs and plunger within the one-piece combined cap and barrel. Shouldone of the plungers fail during a retract operation this function willbe maintained by another latch and catch since only a single cartridgecan be operated at one time through the barrel opening 16.

The position of the stops on the separator, is such that they willengage the plungers at the point when the latches engage the upper catchopenings.

The hollow plungers are light in weight without loss of strength. Thusthere is a saving in material.

The stops are tapered on the upper surface to permit forcing a plungerover the stop when inserting cartridges. The stops are positioned onopposite sides of the separator, and off-set from the center thereof soas not to be directly positioned back to back to permit the separator tofiex slightly when the plunger moves over the taper of the stop.

I have thus described my invention, but I desire it understood that itis not confined to the particular forms or uses shown and described, thesame being merely illustrative, and that the invention may be carriedout in other ways without departing from the spirit of my invention, andtherefore I claim the right to employ all equivalent instrumentalitiescoming within the scope of the appended claim, and by means of whichobjects of my invention are obtained and new results accomplished.

I claim:

1. A multi-cartridge ball point pen comprising a one piece pen bodyforming a combined cap and barrel having an opening at one end forallowing a single cartridge to project therethrough, and a mouth at theother end; said pen body having a transverse body seat intermediate saidmouth and opening, a transversely extending spacer positioned within thebody and on said transverse body seat, and having a separator extendinglongitudinally from the spacer, said spacer provided with transverseseats, a cartridge and surrounding spring associated with each spacerseat, with the spring reacting against the spacer seat and itsassociated cartridge to tend to drive the cartridge in a direction outof the mouth of the body, and locking means including a plunger engagingeach cartridge, and cooperating means on the body for holding thecartridge in either a project or retract position, said locking meansadditionally holding the spacer against the transverse body seat, saidbody mouth wide enough to enable the insertion therethrough of thespacer, cartridges, springs and plunger, said separator extendingbetween said plungers when the plungers are in the project position, andwhen the plungers are in the retract position, and stop means formed onthe separator for limiting the retract movement of the plunger, shouldthe plunger not be engaged by the cooperating means in the retractposition; said plungers being hollow, and enclose the stop means, oneedge of said plungers engaging the stop means for limiting the movementof the plungers.

2. A multi-cartridge ball point pen comprising a one piece pen bodyforming a combined cap and barrel having an opening at one end forallowing a single cartridge to project therethrough, and a mouth at theother end; said pen body having a transverse body seat intermediate saidmouth and opening, a transversely extending spacer positioned within thebody and on said transverse body seat, and having a separator extendinglongitudinally from the spacer, said spacer provided with transverseseats, a cartridge and surrounding spring associated with spacer seat,with the spring reacting against the spacer seat and its associatedcartridge to tend to drive the cartridge in a direction out of the mouthof the body, and locking means including a plunger engaging eachcartridge, and cooperating means on the body for holding the cartridgein either a project or retract position, said locking means additionallyholding the spacer against the transverse body seat, said body mouthwide enough to enable the insertion therethrough of the spacer,cartridges, springs and plunger, said separator extending between saidplungers when the plungers are in the project position, and when theplungers are in the retract position, and stop means formed on theseparator for limiting the retract movement of the plunger, should theplunger be not engaged by the cooperating means in the retract position;said stop means being formed on opposite sides of the separator.

3. A multi-cartridge ball point pen comprising a one piece pen bodyforming a combined cap and barrel having an opening at one end forallowing a single cartridge to project therethrough, and a mouth at theother end; said pen body having a transverse body seat intermediate saidmouth and opening, a transversely extending spacer positioned within thebody and on said transverse body seat, and having a separator extendinglongitudinally from the spacer, said spacer provided with transverseseats, a cartridge and surrounding spring associated with spacer seat,with the spring reacting against the spacer seat and its associatedcartridge to tend to drive the cartridge in a direction out of the mouthof the body, and locking means including a plunger engaging eachcartridge, and cooperating means on the body for holding the cartridgein either a project or retract position, said locking means additionallyholding the spacer against the transverse body seat, said body mouthwide enough to enable the insertion therethrough of the spacer,cartridges, springs and plunger, said separator extending between saidplungers when the plungers are in the project position, and when theplungers are in the retract position, and stop means formed on theseparator for limiting the retract movement of the plunger, should theplunger be not engaged by the cooperating means in the retract position;said stop means being tapered to permit camming the plungers thereover.

4. The multi-cartridge pen of claim 2, wherein the stop means areoff-set from each other.

5. A multi-cartridge ball point pen comprising a one piece body forminga combined cap and barrel having an opening at one end for allowing asingle cartridge to project therethrough, and a mouth at the other end;said pen body having a tranverse body seat intermediate said mouth andopening, a transversely extending spacer positioned within the body andon said transverse body seat, and having a separator extendinglongitudinally from the spacer, said spacer provided with transverseseats, a cartridge and surrounding spring associated with each spacerseat, with the spring reacting against the spacer seat and itsassociated cartridge to tend to drive the cartridge in a direction outof the mouth of the body, and locking means including a plunger engagingeach cartridge, and cooperating means on the body fior holding thecartridge in either a project or retract position, said locking meansadditionally holding the spacer against the transverse body seat, saidbody mouth wide enough to enable the insertion therethrough of thespacer, cartridges, springs and plunger,

said separator extending between said plungers when the plungers are inthe project position, and when the plungers are in the retract position,and stop means formed on the separator for limiting the retract movementof the plunger, should the plunger be not engaged by the cooperatingmeans in the retract position; said pen body being provided with a slotinto which the transversely extending spacer fits so as to automaticallyorient the plungers with respect to the pen body.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,790,422 4/ 1957Grumbach 120-4213 3,103,205 9/1963 Legnani 12042.13

3,143,101 8/1964 Hechtle 12042.13

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,216,481 11/1959 France.

1,229,397 3/ 1960 France.

JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner.

LAWRENCE CHARLES, Examiner.

1. A MULTI-CARTRIDGE BALL POINT PEN COMPRISING A ONE PIECE PEN BODYFORMING A COMBINED CAP AND BARREL HAVING AN OPENING AT ONE END FORALLOWING A SINGLE CARTRIDGE TO PROJECT THERETHROUGH, AND A MOUTH AT THEOTHER END; SAID PEN BODY HAVING A TRANSVERSE BODY SEAT INTERMEDIATE SAIDMOUTH AND OPENING, A TRANSVERSELY EXTENDING SPACER POSITIONED WITHIN THEBODY AND ON SAID TRANSVERSE BODY SEAT, AND HAVING A SEPARATOR EXTENDINGLONGITUDINALLY FROM THE SPACER, SAID SPACER PROVIDED WITH TRANSVERSESEATS, A CARTRIDGE AND SURROUNDING SPRING ASSOCIATED WITH EACH SPACERSEAT, WITH THE SPRING REACTING AGAINST THE SPACER SEAT AND ITSASSOCIATED CARTRIDGE TO TEND TO DRIE THE CARTRIDGE IN A DIRECTION OUT OFTHE MOUTH OF THE BODY, AND LOCKING MEANS INCLUDING A PLUNGER ENGAGINGEACH CARTRIDGE, AD COOPERATING MEANS ON THE BODY FOR HOLDING THECARTRIDGE IN EITHER